IBS and recreational drugs

Some women find it is worse at certain times of their menstrual cycle. Sometimes certain foods (like dairy products) seem to....

30/01/2015

Question

I went to my local GP and was told that I had irritable bowel syndrome IBS.

However, as I am a clubber and have been known to take drugs I thought it might be because of this.

In January the symptoms were: I couldn't eat, felt sick, my stomach felt very nervous. I feel most ill when I'm out. I also smoke.

Can you suggest what the problem may be and what can I do about it? I haven't taken drugs for months.

Answer

First of all, I am not trying to be a kill-joy, but I am so pleased that you have not taken any drugs.

We really don't know all the damage that they can do, and there is no doubt in my mind that regular users of even soft drugs can do long-term harm.

So well done, and I hope you find you can enjoy social events just as much without them.

Concerning your symptoms, certainly some drugs will make you feel very jittery and give you nausea. You don't say how much you smoke, but that also doesn't help.

The nicotine can cause problems in the stomach lining and predispose to indigestion and ulcers.

I know you expect all doctors to say you should stop smoking, and there are so many good reason that I cannot avoid advising you to stop.

I know it is easy for me to say, and difficult to do, but I feel it is the single most important thing that any young person can do to improve their health for the rest of their lives.

But have you had these symptoms continue since you stopped the dugs?

IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, that is made after all other possible causes have been considered for abdominal pain with negative results, then if the pattern of symptoms is typical IBS is the likely diagnosis.

There is no specific reliable test for IBS. It is the history of the complaint that points to the diagnosis. My personal impression is that this a condition of busy people from their late teens to 50's.

The exact cause of the condition is debated, but the pain is probably from spasm in the bowel, although probably several factors play a part.

Treatment is also variable, but it does need sympathy and understanding. Some people find that stress makes their symptoms worse, and so trying to reduce stress can be helpful.

Some women find it is worse at certain times of their menstrual cycle. Sometimes certain foods (like dairy products) seem to make matters worse, and avoiding them can help.

Treating the constipation with bulking agents and high-fibre foods can help this, but some patients find they just makes them feel more bloated and uncomfortable.

Medications used are usually antispasmodics, and common ones prescribed are mebeverine (Colofac is one brand) dicyclomine, peppermint oil, and alverine (Spasmonal).

These can all help to varying degrees.

Is it possible to get rid of it? Unfortunately there is no cure for IBS in the sense that you cannot take a course of treatment and it will never come back.

However do not despair. It is a condition that varies in severity, and can just go away. I have had many patients with this condition, and many of them manage to adjust their lifestyle to a degree where the problem does not really interfere with their lives.

I'm sorry to say this again, but avoiding so-called 'recreational' drugs and stopping smoking might be the answer to all your symptoms.

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